Rapid heart rate (tachy.),shortness of breathe, dizziness?

Question

I'm hoping someone can help...especailly if you're a health professional. My 15 yr. old daughter has been having shortness of breathe constantly along with a rapid heart rate, her heart races and some dizziness.....the doctor says it's anxiety and wants me to start her on Zoloft. However, I do have panic attacks but have never had shortness of breathe all the time, as my daughter. Her father has a heart murmur, but they say they don't hear one in her....do you have any idea of what could be going on. I afraid that I just do not believe it's only anxiety. Thank you for all responses.

Answer 1

Really if he has not evaluated her heart, he really needs to. It very well may be anxiety, but without checking out any other possibilities you can't be certain. If he has not checked out her heart ask to see a cardiologist, when seen by the cardiologist he should suggest an 30 day event monitor (if he doesn't, suggest this to him). This is a little monitor that is hooked up to her chest with electrodes attaching to stickers on her chest for 30 days. This will be a hassle and she may complain about - esp being 15, but it is very informative and useful. This records everything her heart does while wearing this monitor. It's unlikely that she will have one of these "attacks" while seeing the cardiologist, so this is really the way go. Seriously, when it comes to your heart you can't be too safe and assume it's something else. If her primary doctor doesn't want to do this switch docs. It isn't unheard of for kids this young to have heart problems. Investigate it completely, if it turns out her heart is fine-GOOD, at least at that point you're not wondering! Take care.

Answer 2

well, of course you want to have her doctor check out her heart, to be sure it's not speeding up at times and causing these symptoms. I can't imagine this hasn't been done already based on your description of her symptoms.

If the heart checks out perfectly normal, there's time to slow down and try to carefully get to the bottom of the situation. Your doctor may be thinking that since the heart checks out ok, the next likliest diagnosis is panic attacks, which could give these exact symptoms in some people. There's probably no harm in trying the medication even if it turns out not to be panic, and it might solve the problem.

Shortness of breath can certainly be a sign of asthma, but that's very easy to diagnose with a simple blowing test called a spirometry. If she coughs after exertion, if her symptoms are more prominent at night, if she wheezed as an infant or wheezes at times now you may want to ask about whether it makes sense for her to have a spirometry test done.

There is a very, very rare condition called pheocromocytoma which could cause espisodes of a fast heart rate, and is hard to diagnose because it's so uncommom many doctors don't even think of looking for it. You could ask if that's been checked for, but remember, common things occur commonly and rare things occur rarely, so the odds that it's a pheo are very, very remote.

good luck!

Answer 3

OK maybe time to settle back a bit and catch your own breath cos, what you are describing has been correctly diagnosed from your Doctor.
.Anxiety does all these things you described and more, so whilst Zoloft has it's own issues, if taken in low dose can be quite beneficial though.
I would prefer if Daughter was to address what is causing her anxiety than to take pill to calm her down..
Maybe a Psychologist would be able to dig and sought out the root of the problem...then again It is only my humble opinion given in good faith so hope this has been of some help..Cheers

Answer 4

I agree with julie b. She needs her heart checked out! Young people have heart attacks quite often from what i read. I had high blood pressure and cholesterol in my twentys, was left untreated by my docs and wrote off as depression and anxiety. which i also had. and i believe it contributed to my heart disease. i had my first heart attack age 39. The small arteries at the bottom of my heart are narrowed and one 100% blocked but can't be fixed so i am on a constant stream of nitro.

Answer 5

Also, caffeine (sodas, chocolate) make the heart palpitate. Even a high thyroid level which is known as hyperthyroidism can cause these effects. A simple blood test will show for this. Stay away from the caffeine and especially where the kids are drinking those 100% caffeine high energy drinks!

Answer 6

Trust your doctors. She is too young for a heart attack. Anxiety usually brings signs very similar to heart problem. Get a second opinion if you are not satisfied with the first doctor. Dont worry and dont get too stressed since you mentioned that you also suffer from panic attacks.

Answer 7

hi i am 35 and had the same health problems it was chf congestive heart failure yes i had the rapid heart beat shortness and breath and dizziness not saying she has it but that is some of the symptoms

Answer 8

... an anxiety attack that is usually a response to psycological stressor... all of those signs and symptoms maybe sum up to a HYPERVENTILATION REACTION... Cardiac wise... may cause chestpain, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), "air hunger" and palpitation... neurological symptoms may involve dizziness and lightheadedness, carpopedal spasm (numbness/tingling of hands/feet)... usually, involves intense fear/ anxiety... clinical signs are rare and varied (so you may feel different when you have your anxiety as what to your daughter feels)

Zoloft may help her calm down... when she's having these attacks you may use brown bag, we usually give brown bag to breathe into to alleviate the symptoms to patient (working in the ER and all)... plus a pill...

take care...

Answer 9

Hyperventilation is a part of an anxiety attack. Have her breathe into a paper bag.

Answer 10

I ran EMS for 14 years and we saw this a lot in the young teenage girls. I would hesitate to medicate her and see if counseling might be a better answer.